Callaway Big Bertha X-12 Iron set Golf Club

I'm a middle-aged, bogie golfer, lowest ever handicap:12. I shot a low round record 81 in June 2006 with X-12's at a tough muni in upstate NY - Colonie Golf Course,4/9's, one of the best munis I've played anywhere. I also am a member at the (public)Palma Real, RTJones 1972 in Ixtapa, Mexico.)
Irons in play : CALLAWAY X-12 on RCH 96 regular flex.
2nd Bag: x-12's on RCH96 stiff, which give a lower trajectory and with a bit more roll equals LONGER.
Wife's Bag: X-12's on Ladies Gems: She can spank 'em and hits my 96 Regs well, too.
About graphite: We both prefer it to steel. I don't think graphite is "less accurate" as has been said (or parroted, take your choice) by quite a few. Graphite is longer than steel: these fly maybe 8-10yd longer than TT D Gold 300 steel, but that's not necessarily true for everyone. They are lighter to carry if you are a hoofer, but the net difference amounts to carrying one less can of beer (:->)
At some point most golfers not gifted a set of irons by some leprechaun begin to wonder if they shouldn't drag all those old steel tomato stakes they've been bashing the worms with to the dumpster and then shop E Bay for some newer irons. If you want your name on the leaderboard of your local cow-patty league and can't seem to get those Greens in Reg. you should try the X-12's. They're a bargain on E Bay right now, they have "tour victories" to their credit if that impresses you. The newer X-16 Steelheads are an equal bargain on E Bay but they have a very different feel.
Callaway has every bit the fanatic fan base as PING -We have a PING 3 and 7 wood and 4 PING putters between us- the reason being that a quality product, excellent R and D and great tech support speak loudly. The X-12's are in my opinion the best feeling, best looking, easiest to clean (cavity backs are notorious mud-gatherers) and most durable irons these guys have made to date. I've hit the x-14's, x-16 Steelheads and the Fusion heads. I was not impressed by any appreciable difference other than the higher price.
Don't misunderstand: if it wasn't for the talent at Callaway bringing the hot faces, heads, (sometimes great) shafts and really good looking iron sets to market year after year those X-12's wouldn't have been there a few years ago to begin with - they have a right to market share having earned it.
Consider this: If the older sets won all those trophies and it's only 2,3 or 4 years later, what changed? Could it be just cosmetics? Aren't the basic geometry and weight distribution (more or less) the same? You think steel ain't steel??? Hmmm. I think it's the player, not the club, but then let's leave the driver and fairway woods out of this argument. That's a different story.

LIKE: Today's prices, particularly on EBAY. $175-$230 for really nice sets. Sharp looks, balance, everything Callaway says in their Product come-on is true.
These are not oversize heads, an OVERDONE hype when it comes to performance. The idea is not FORGIVENESS, it's about practice makes perfect and getting to be a "good" player. These heads are compact: bigger than blades, smaller that O-Size. When hit consistently on the sweet spot, easy to do if you practice, these x-12's feel fantastic. We like to bang these on the range as much as our woods: Nike Ignite 1-3-4-7-9 in mine, Ping G2/BBertha WB's 3-5-7-9-11 in hers.
DISLIKE:
Cheesy painted shaft graphics on the RCH shafts get bag-beat very easily. Surfer dude or road bike frame decals, maybe? (:->